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After practice at Joe Louis Arena Wednesday the Detroit Red Wings were off for their annual visit to Children's Hospital of Michigan. The trip comes as the Wings are struggling and reminds them that losing a hockey game “doesn’t really mean all that much in the grand scheme of things,” Jimmy Howard said. “There are a lot of people in this world that are going through much worse.

“I think by going over there, it’s tough, it’s tough to see what the families are dealing with, and the children. But at the same time, it’s also rewarding to be able to give them a few moments of joy and excitement.”

Tomas Tatar said: “As much as it is going to help with the kids, I think it is going to help us as well. We will think about something else. We will put some smiles on kids' faces. It is just a good feeling. We are doing something good. I am really excited and looking forward to it.”

This will be the first visit for newcomer Frans Nielsen, but he did something similar during his decade with the New York Islanders and said it is all the more heart-wrenching since he and his wife welcomed their firstborn last summer.

“It’s great and tough at the same time,” Nielsen said. “You don’t want to see kids in there. Especially this time of year, you should be home with your family. And I think just having my first child now it’s going to be even harder for me.

“I remember one year in New York, we went to kids with cancers and that was really tough. Actually the kids were happy to see us, and they almost took it the best. It was talking to the parents that was tough. And now having a kid myself, you don’t wish that on anyone.

“But it’s nice going in there. Hopefully you can put a smile on their faces and do something good.”

Nielsen echoed the perspective it can bring, saying, “Especially when you walk into a place like that, where little kids have cancers, losing a hockey game is nothing. “

The visit hit home for coach Jeff Blashill. "My niece right now spends lots of time at the hospital we are going to,” he said. “She’s got a blood disorder called DBA. It's one of the rarest blood disorders in the world. She has constant blood transfusions and spends lots of time there.”

Parking note: The Cobo Center parking garage will be closed to Red Wings fans for home games Thursday and Saturday because of a private event. Fans also will not be able to walk through Cobo.